Left to right: SIBA managing director, Mike Benner; Mark Banham, of H Banham Ltd; Craig Lee, of Rudgate Brewery; and Tony Jerome, of SIBA
Robin Appel and Mark Banham celebrated the 50th anniversary of their revered Maris Otter barley variety at a tasting of past champion beers of Britain held in the Houses of Parliament.
Seven of the most recent champions, between 2000 and 2014, have been brewed with Maris Otter, and 2015 sees a raft of activities to celebrate its anniversary.
Robin Appel (right) with Andrew Grifftihs MP
Organised by CAMRA and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, the event demonstrated the flavours of British barley in a wide range of styles of ale, including milds, pale ales, best bitters, porters and barley wine, with British foods to match.
Mr Banham and Mr Appel said: “The importance of high-quality British barley should not be underestimated, and it was good to show over 70 MPs such a display of different colours and styles of barley malts, and the wonderful champion beers produced from them.
“It is also good to see our farmers, maltsters, brewing supporters and brewers working together in such a positive fashion, and demonstrating their respective arts to so many new MPs.”
